Talk about a stripped back Festive season!
I was out for a frosty run (daily occurrence at the moment) and I was remembering what it like, when all that social media was used for, was holiday snaps, outfit of the day, ‘we went for a walk’, as well as ‘this is what I’ve had for my breakfast’. Now we are possibly (I am speaking for myself here) becoming a people who are constantly hungry for information, be it ‘cases’, ‘the numbers’, messages from people who have done a YTS in public health over the weekend, and evidence to support either out biggest dreams or worst nightmares.
I have said once before, if not a few times before, I am getting whiplash off the news.
I literally cannot remember what I was worrying about this time last year. What was I beating myself up about mentally? Em…. not a clue. I would literally have to go and rake out the my diary planner, but to be honest I don’t really want to remind myself. It really wouldn’t amount to much.
So how are you hanging on in there?
I am really hoping to get back to work on the 16th but after watching the news today, I have no idea if that is going to happen. Fingers crossed please everyone!
In the meantime I thought I would compile a ‘whats keeping me sane’ list.
Things that feel good, that you didn’t think would feel good.
Saying hello to as many people as you can when out for a walk/cycle/run. I get a very high return rate of hellos going through the park on my bike, including a black labrador called Jax.
Cheese on toast with Woscester Sauce. (This has replaced the fish finger addiction from March)
Being organised and planning my meals - this is actually a very good one if you are not feeling good about yourself. Its a small thing that you CAN plan and it also takes away that hmmmm what will I eat, so I’ll order take out then you feel overfull and uncomfortable afterwards.
It’s totally OK to watch your favourite film as many times as you like. My go to films to pick me up are Gregorys Girl, Clueless, The Holiday, Comfort and Joy ( for the marvellous Glasgow settings), and Pretty in Pink because why not?
Give your face a good double cleanse with a hot face cloth and a lovely smelling cleanser. My favourite is the Neals Yard Calendula one and little goes a looooong way!
Get good waterproofs. This is my favourite rain poncho and I feel as if I have a superhero power wearing it. It has almost turned into a Challenge Annika situation with me and the rain, it has turned into a test to see how well it works!
Bake a pie. Any pie. Have a go. Bake 2 and give one to a pal or a neighbour who would just think you are the best thing ever since sliced bread.
Wear 2 jumpers. This sounds like such an odd one, but if you stressed ( and I don’t know anyone who isn’t just now to be honest) it can really affect your body temperature, so dig out 2 jumpers, and fingerless gloves for the win. Even as I am typing, my hands are getting cold, and I wish I had a pair! I think I am going to bribe a colleague who has taken up knitting to do me a pair.
Apply hand cream. I swear the skin on my hands is literally cracking up with all the hand washing and sanitising I am doing. Grab a cream. Anything in your house. You’ll have some somewhere.
Have courageous conversations, be the one to start them. If something has freaked you out or put your head in a weird place, don’t let it dwell in your head alone, talk to someone, especially if you are doing the festive season on your own. Start the chat, send the message, make the phone call. Don’t ever feel like a burden to anyone because you are NOT.
So. Lets start 2021 from scratch. Scratch can mean many things, starting from scratch means stripping it right back and building from the foundations up, but if you play golf, it means you are the bad ass of bad asses on the golf course and can pretty much OWN it when you play.
Onward Everyone (it really is the only way)
Elizabeth
PS I am consultant for Neals Yard so the link is to my page, but the poncho is just a favourite and is NOT an ad. I’m nae that popular.